A2 a well balanced steel

So for those of us without advanced HT equipment, would A2 be ground to near final dimensions before sending it off? Or is it one that is prone to warp?
 
A.McPherson said:
So for those of us without advanced HT equipment, would A2 be ground to near final dimensions before sending it off? Or is it one that is prone to warp?
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Sounds like they're saying a2 is good to go and can be a great steel if forged properly to remove the banding issues. Where stock removal people are kinda stuck with what they got.
 
All the A2 that I have heat treated has been quite stable and it straightens rather easily in the temper. But this is one reason plate quenching in a press is nice. keeps everything nice and stright. but keep your edge a tad thick so it does not bacon on you. standard is .030 thick before heat treat.
 
A friend of mine uses A2 straight from a sheet with killer results. Nothing to worry about.

Lately, I want every steel that I use in round bar. I like to control the condition of the steel before heat treat.

Hoss
 
valknut said:
Sounds like they're saying a2 is good to go and can be a great steel if forged properly to remove the banding issues. Where stock removal people are kinda stuck with what they got.
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A2 is no more prone to banding than other steels. Less so than higher carbide steels like D2 or most stainless steels.
 
I wasn't aware that A2 was being made by the ESR process. Anybody mind sharing which company/companies are producing it?
 
Larrin said:
ESR (Electro-Slag Remelt) process has a very rapid solidification rate that leads to low segregation and carbide banding compared to conventional casting. In terms of reducing segregation it is even better than Vacuum Arc Remelt (VAR). The solidification is not as rapid as powder metallurgy, but the cleanliness (in terms of inclusions) is likely better for ESR than most PM.
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I've always wished for a PM version of A2. Does it exist? Would it be possible or even beneficial for the alloy?
 
VAR, ESR, etc, etc !! :confused:
The '60s were great times for new steel making methods ! We tried them all. Lots of fun. We sent our man to a meeting about results of everyone's tests. Our brick lined ladle was lasting far longer than anyone else's. They all wanted to know our great secrets . ?? We just never let the Bricks cool off. !! :DCeramics don't like thermal cycling or thermal shock ! :p They never took ceramics 101. If the ladle wasn't being used for the Project we ran some other batch through it .
Who says engineering is boring .
 
All the A2 I've used has been starretts precision ground flat stock, I've never noticed much if any alloy banding in mirror finishes.
 
If you're looking for ESR A2, check out SB Specialty. I would call them and talk to the reps. Like DevinT, I also sourced a bar from SB Specialty Metals. After buying from an different online vendor (it may have been flatground, not too sure) and experiencing BAD banding, I called up SB Specialty and spoke with a very helpful gentlemen, some of you know him. He sent me a sheet 1/16" x 4" x 36", gratis. Told me on the phone it was ESR. It finished CLEAN. I mean it. I was very very happy with the paring knives I made. Still have a bit of it! Also I love how stable A2 seems to be even during an oil quench. Did the sub zero right after quench and 350F tempers on the parers, very very impressed.
 
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